What is the Pressure Chamber and How Does it Work?

The environmental conditions that can be reproduced by climatic tests are very varied.

Alongside the more common ones, such as changes in temperature and humidity, there are environmental conditions that we rarely consider in everyday life, such as atmospheric pressure.

We have already talked about the decompression or hyperbaric chamber, which simulates high- pressure environments, i.e. below sea level.

In today's article we will talk about the inverse, the pressure chamber or altitude.

What is the Pressure Chamber Used For?

The pressure chamber, also known as an altitude or hypobaric, is used to reproduce the environmental conditions typical of a high or very high altitude environment.

The first parameter to consider as altitude increases is atmospheric pressure.

In everyday life, we don't even notice that we are carrying the weight of a column of air several kilometers long , which, at sea level, has a mass of about 1.30 kg. 

As the altitude increases, the length of this column decreases and consequently its mass, so that the effects on people and things become noticeable and impossible to ignore.

Atmospheric pressure is also influenced by temperature and humidity, which are therefore essential factors in the pressure chamber altitude test, as we will see.

The pressure chamber is able to precisely alter all these parameters and faithfully reproduce the environmental conditions that people and things will encounter at a given altitude.

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How the Pressure Chamber is Made

A pressure chamber is an environment isolated from the outside world in which atmospheric pressure can be altered. The size of these chambers varies greatly depending on their intended use: there are laboratory pressure chambersdesigned for testing products and materials, as well as chamber-sized pressure chambers— called walk-in— for testing on humans.

Generally, pressure chambers are able to simulate an altitude of 30,000 meters but in special cases the range can be extended up to 45,000.

Some standard pressure chambers perform only this function, but most have the ability to alter at least one other parameter and they are called:

• thermostatic: if they have pressure and temperature control
• climatic: if they have pressure, temperature and humidity control

Altitude Testing for People and Materials

The main use of the pressure chamber is to test the effects of progressive or sudden changes in altitude on people or materials in order to monitor their effects.

When it comes to pressure chamber testing of materials, sector aerospace primarily involved. 

For example, the various components of an airplane must pass a rigorous series of tests before being approved, especially regarding the electronic components on-board which must maintain correct functioning even in the face of sudden changes in pressure.

Just like objects, people also need to be prepared before reaching certain altitudes. In fact, walk-in pressure chambers are primarily used by military aviators who train to experience the symptoms ofhypoxia, a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen to the tissues. 

It's worth noting that even some professional athletes use hypobaric chamber treatments to enhance performance. These treatments are so effective that in some countries they're considered doping!

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The FDM Environmental Chamber

To perform extreme climate tests – reaching temperatures from -70°C up to +180°C and humidity values ​​close to saturation – there is no better instrument than the FDM Environmental Chamber.

The technicians at FDM – Environment Makers boast over 70 years of experience in the sector and are always ready to discuss each client's requests to build an environmental chamber that meets their specific needs.

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Authoritative Sources

• IEC 60068-2-13 — Test M: Low air pressure.
• ASME BPVC — Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for Pressure Vessels.
• PED Directive 2014/68/EU — European Pressure Equipment Directive.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Pressure Chamber

Pressure chamber or decompression chamber: what's the difference?

The pressure chamber operates at pressures above atmospheric pressure (typically 1-30 bar) to simulate underwater, industrial, or medical hyperbaric conditions. The decompression chamber operates at lower pressures (up to 10-50 mbar) to simulate aeronautical altitude or space environments. The technologies and applications are distinct.

Which industries use pressure chambers?

Main: underwater and offshore (testing of diving equipment, marine sensors, ROVs — up to 300 bar simulating -3,000 m), hyperbaric medical (therapeutic hyperbaric chambers and testing of compatible devices), industrial (valves, pipes, tanks for PED qualification), aerospace (fuselage pressurization leak testing).

What standards govern pressure chamber testing?

For industrial products: PED Directive 2014/68/EU, ASME BPVC (USA). For underwater electronics: IEC 60529 IP68 (depth specification) and MIL-STD-810 Method 512 protocols (immersion). For diving applications: EN 250 (underwater breathing apparatus). For hyperbaric medical: ISO 14931.

Can I combine pressure and temperature in a single chamber?

Yes, in custom configurations. FDM creates custom combined pressure, temperature, and humidity chambers, useful for comprehensive testing of underwater or aerospace devices where real-world operating conditions require simultaneous stress. Typical ranges: pressure up to 100 bar + temperature -40°C/+150°C.